134 Shuttle launches in 134 seconds as Space Shuttle Mission Ends

The U.S. Space Shuttle mission will come to a sad end Friday after budget cuts forced NASA to end manned flights on the shuttle.

The launch of shuttle mission STS-135 is scheduled for 11:26:46 EDT (15:26 UTC) Friday July 8. The Atlantis shuttle will stay in space 12 days as it makes one last visit to the International Space Station.

Americans will have to rely on the Russians and Chinese to send people into space after tommorrow, and many think it puts national security at risk.

Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these four astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-135 crew portrait. Pictured are NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson (center right), commander; Doug Hurley (center left), pilot; Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus, both mission specialists.